Sermons on Checking Ourselves:

Leafy Growth

Contributed by Jon Lipka on May 6, 2012

As branches of the vine, it is our purpose to produce much fruit, not simply to serve ourselves by producing leafy growth.

God told Abram, “All people on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen. 12:3). He was not pointing to Isaac. Nor to Jacob, the first Israel; even though he brought blessing where he went, he was not the perfection of the promise—of God’s covenant. Similarly the sons of Jacob ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Anglican

Fruitful Lives

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on May 7, 2009

We must see ourselves as branches connected to Jesus rather than Jesus being connected to us.

John 15: 1 – 8 Fruitful Lives Intro: When we lived in Nederland, Texas, we had some shrubs in our front flower beds that seemed to grow 6 inches overnight. I cut and cut those shrubs. The more I cut; the more they grew. Finally, I cut them to within 6 inches of the ground hoping they would ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Living In A Hole Series

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Jul 6, 2009

An analogy of three types of traps (holes) we may find ourselves in and the only way to get out.

Introduction: When I was a teenager, I remember my uncle telling me of times when He would go spelunker caves. He told me that there were times deep inside some of the caves where you had to crawl on your stomach and through the water and mud and as the walls of the caves would get tighter and ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 5:21-31

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Cross Examination

Contributed by Don Jones on Apr 6, 2009

Jesus acts on the cross are examined. He did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves.

Cross Examination Mark 15:21-39 Introduction It was time for Jesus to be crucified. He had been beaten with fists, had his hair pulled out, He had been flogged to the point of death. He was a mass of bleeding, raw and opened flesh. It is a miracle that He is still able to carry His ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:21-39

Denomination: Baptist

Sin City Series

Contributed by Chris Surber on May 27, 2010

When we allow ourselves to be inundated with sin we grow callous to its affects and to God's holiness.

“Sin City,” Genesis 19:1-29 Introduction I spent the eighth grade living in Butte, Montana. When I moved there from California most of the kids I eventually met assumed that I was a surfer because I was from California. Of course, this is a little bit like assuming that everyone from ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 19:1-29

Denomination: Christian Church

Have You Been To Your Cave? Series

Contributed by Tim White on Mar 11, 2015

There needs to be a place where we meet with God and look deep within ourselves. For David, it appears to be a cave.

Have You Been to Your Cave? Psalm 37, 142, 57 and I Samuel , 21 and 22 "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 142:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Growing Broader Through Ministry Series

Contributed by David Owens on Feb 10, 2015

We are created to serve. The best thing we can do for God's kingdom and ourselves is becoming a servant.

Introduction: A. One day, some church members were working at their church workday and a teenage boy they didn’t know was working with them to fulfill some court appointed community service hours. 1. The teen asked the man who was working next to him, “So, what bad thing did you do that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is Jesus Enough? Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Sep 1, 2011

In order to inherit the blessings of the kingdom of heaven we must humble ourselves and admit our spiritual poverty.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Most of us have heard these words from the Declaration of Independence since we were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Dwelling In The Circumstances

Contributed by Matt Barker on Aug 30, 2009

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the circumstances we find ourselves in that we miss God.

Dwelling in the Circumstances Life Outside the Green Grass... The Life of Joseph Genesis 37-50 For those of us that make New Year’s resolutions to read our bible all the way through, we have probably at the very least made it through the book of Genesis quite a few times. Today I want to talk ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"God Is So Delighted With You"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Feb 21, 2012

A sermon about how God loves us even when we don't love ourselves.

Mark 1:9-15 “I’m So Delighted with You” This past week I was reading about a church in another town that was trying to coin a catchphrase their church sign. The suggestions which were put forth were good, but the church members were afraid that only other Christians would ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-15

Denomination: United Methodist

Pleasure Or Joy Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 11, 2010

To understand our duty to ourselves and God, we must distinguish between seeking pleasure and seeking joy.

Third Sunday in Advent Dec 12, 2010 Spirit of the Liturgy–Sunday Series The haunting strains of chant mode 1 set the admonition of St. Paul in the Introit of today’s Mass, in both the ordinary and extraordinary form. The Church looks at the world through rose-colored vestments, not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Catholic

Outward, Upward And Inward

Contributed by Steven Davis on Jul 20, 2010

Faith directs us to glorify God, to serve others and to build ourselves spiritually - all at the same time.

Sometimes, when I watch sports at home, Hannah will sit down beside me and watch the game with me for a few minutes. Eventually she'll ask who's playing and who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. Then she'll say something to the effect of “whoever wins – I like!” Now, in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Why Deny? Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 12, 2014

We have been inundated with the message of self-indulgence, so why should we deny ourselves?

Why Deny? Matthew 6:16-18 The Sermon on the Mount is a guide for how to live as followers of Jesus. Specifically, Jesus is teaching us that we have to lose some things in our religion so we can get back to a relationship with God. Religion focuses on religious practices, rules, observances, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Methodist

Do You Love Yourself? Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Aug 7, 2014

We are to love. We are to love our neighbor. We are to love our neighbor as we love OURSELVES.

1. Matthew 7.12 a. Why "Golden Rule"? In AD 222-235 Roman Emperor Alexander Severus adopted the golden rule as his motto, and displayed it on public buildings, and promotes peace among religions. Some say the golden rule is called golden because Severus wrote it on his wall in gold. b. It is NOT ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Family Portrait Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Aug 15, 2014

Paul gives some details of how we should conduct ourselves in our roles in the Christian family.

Family Portrait Ephesians 6:1-4 Intro Slide I like pictures. I like to look at pictures from the past. They are great reminders of what we were like and can help to remind us of times we were enjoying life or happy when things are not going as great, so that we can make some changes to help get ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational